Tractor.



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F.' B. GEHDEMAN. TRACTOR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 10. \QIL- 1 ,'255,404. I Patented Feb. 5, 1918.

4 SHEETS-FSHEET I.

WITNESSES.- 1'1v VENTOR.

FmvmJ/ Ge mam F. H. GERDEMAN.

TRACTOR.

APPLICATION FILED IULY l0. Hill.-

Patented Feb. 5,1918.

4 shins-sun? 2 WITNESSES:

FEM/r ATTORNEY.

F. a, GERDEMAN.

nucmn. APPLICATION FILED JULY I0. 1911- Patented Feb. 5,1918.

W ITNESSE.S.- INVENTOR Frawmcufl GETIEDEMEJY F. H. GEBDEMAN.

TRACTOR. APPLICATION mzn JULY '10. I911.

Patented Feb.'5,-19 1 8 it' 'f v'vi ll hfis 'een that F designates the motor framefhajying cross menijbers which so port the motor and transmission M, the ra iator H, differential N, drive wheels D, and various other parts. -The rear edge of the said fran ip'F' provided with a. segmental rack 2, whiciiif, preferably integral therewith, all

' parts-of frame beiiiiffpieferably formed in one integral construction.

For the purpose ofproviding the desired connection between the tractor and the devibe to beigdrawn, and at the same time suptli-e novel operajors control unit, presently referred toff it proposed to pro ,vide a draft element which essentially comprises a body portion or shaft A which may be of tubular cross section and provided at its forward end with a yoke designated generallyias B, and having the yoke arms B and B which are respectively connected at the upper side of the frame F as indicated at 3, and to the under side of said frame as at l, whereby the said draft element will i have a free pivotal connection with the frame to permit-of the necessary movement of the tractor to't'jhangeits direction oftravel. The body portion A of this draft device carries at its upper side the adjustable operators control element previously referred to, and also has depending therefrom the means for connecting or coupling the implement to be drawn to the tractor.

As shown, the said means for connecting the implement to be drawn essentially ineludes in its organization the two sleeves 5 "-j'which are spaced apart on the tubular body portion of the draft. -.,element and are loosely mounted thereon to permit of a relative rotary or swinging movement of the depending adjustment bars 77 on the bolts 6. These bars 7 7 are securely fastened toj"get-her by a cross-piece 7 (see Fig. 9), to

thereby constitute hanger brackets, and are provided with a plurality of adjustment openings 7 arranged at different elevations for receiving the bolts 8 which are adapted V to. connect with the ends of the channel "-"shapdfmeritibers 99 adapted to be securely bolted or ,i' otherwise fastened to the stub tongue 10 of the rear truck or other device to be drawn. For the purpose of stabilizing the connecf, tion between the tongue of the truck or other impl ertien't to' be drawn, and the tractor, under 511 conditions of use: both reverse and draw chains are utilized. The reverse draw chain 11 is rigidly secured to the forward -end of the tongue 10 by U-bolts 12, and the ot'h'erjiend of said chain is fastened in the WcrticafkcQpQrsl0t'13 of the rear sleeve 5, .(see Fig. 9'}: whichslotisfilightly larger at its upper end than at its bottom end, whereby the chain 11 may be quickly and adjustably fastened to firmly hold the said sleeve 5; against the laterally projecting pin 19, and

act as a check for the trailing vehicle when the tractor slows down, or as a positive con ncction when the tractor is reversed. .\s shown, near the axle 1% of the truck, on the underside of the tongue 10 is a downward projecting draw chain keeper member 15,

.having a slot similar to the slot 13 of the sleeve 5. This member 15 adjustably receives one end of the draw chain 16 whose other end is fastened to the draw bar 17, (Fig. 1) which is securely fastened to the under side of the main frame F of the tractor. Thus, it will be apparent that the draw bar 17 of Fig. 1, and the chain 16 provide a positive draw connection for pulling various kinds of tools, implements, or machinery commonly employed in farm work, while. the chain 11 provides the necessary connection to push the implement backward when the motor of the tractor is reversed, or as pro viously indicated to provide a check for arresting the momentum of the trailing \chicle. By shortening or lengthening one of these chains 11 or 16 relatively to the other, the hanger brackets which llllllllll the adjustment bars 7-7 will swing at their upper ends on the bolts (3t3 and at their lower ends on the bolts 8- allowin an adjustment forward and backward as shown by the dotted lines 18 of Fig. 4. When the tractor s to be operated alone or withoutthe rigid connection with an implement, then it is necessary to employ the truck as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, in order to support the rear end of the same and when attached to an implement the rear truck is of course removed by withdrawing the bolts 88 and loosening chains 11 and 16 seen in Figs. 1 and 1.

Near the lower portion of the yoke B seen in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive is located a gear 21, which is shown in Fig. 1 meshing with the segmental rack 2 of the frame F. To this gear 21 is fastened a short upright shaft 22, having at its upper end a worm gear 23, (Fig. 3) which meshes with worm 24 provided with a short shaft 25, which has fastened thereto one part of a universal joint 26, the other part of which latter has a shaft 27 of considerable length fastened thereto Ell) 27 by a long key-way which extends the full length of the shaft and thus the two parts are locked together, as shown in section in Fig. 8. t

A suitable steering wheel 30 is securely fastened to the end of the tube 2b which formsa part of the extensible steering post by which the direction of movement of the tractor is controlled, and for the purpose of mounting this steering post so that it may be vertically adj ustablc as well as extensible, it is proposed to mount the same in a suitable block 29, which is a part of the operators control unit that includes in its organization an upright arm 3l'on which the said block 29 is slidable, and capable of being locked thereto by means of a set screw not shown.

The said upright bar 31 on which the block :29 is slidable forms a part of an "adjuslable bracket. That is to say, the arm 31 has its lower portion bent at an angle and securely fastened at the extreme rear end of a channel bar 32, whereby the same is rigidly carried by the bar and always maiir tains the same. relative position thereto. This adjustable bracket which includes the arm 31 and bar 32 is supported on a suit-- able adjustment member 33, preferably in the form of a casting which is secured to the tubular body portion A of the draft element by the U-bolts 35 and and longitudinally. adjustable thereon when the bolts are loosened. As will be observed more especially from Fig. 7 of the drawings, the said channel bar 32 of-the bracket is inverted-and has its end opposite the arm 31 secured by means of a bolt 36 to the central portion of an adjustable plate 34 carried by the upstanding threaded ends of the U-bolt. 35 which assists in clamping the member 33 to thetubular bodyportion of the draft elementJ-Q The intermediate portion of this inverted bar 32 engages with the toothed segment- 41 of the member 3?). and since one end thereof is attached to the adjustable plate 34, it will be apparent that the end of the channel bar-member to which the arm 31 is attached is capable of a vertical movement.

iYith further reference to the member 33 it will be observed from Fig. 5 that the same is provided with a slot 37 which receives the head of a bolt 38. whose shank portion passes through the web of the channel bar 32, and is surrounded by a coil spring 10 which is confined between the clamping! plate 39 which overlies the outer face of the bar 32, and a suitable abutment. washer 38 on the threaded end of, the bolt 38. Since this bolt 38 is engaged with the member-331t- Will be apparent that-the full tension of the spring 40 is exerted upon the plate 32 and rear face of "the channel bar 3:2 whereby the opposite flanges of 'the bar will be maintained in engagement with the toothed segment 41. Since the slot 37 is formed on an arc of a'circle corresponding to the curvature of the segment -l1. it will be apparent that the entire bracket which in'clndcs thc abutment- 31 and bar 32 may be shifted lat erally. thatisfrom right to left and carry therewith all- 0f the various instrumentalities supported thereby. b v merely lifting the bar out. of engagement with the teeth of the segment. and moving: the same.

The operator's seat +2 is carried by a pair of supporting bars 45. which are of the angular formation shown and are i'ulcruincd the clamping plate 3!). as shown in Fig. i.

This clamping plate 3-19. it. will be |'cmenibered, is under the tension of the. spring 40 which presses' downwardly on the entire channel bar for the purpose of holding the opposite flanges .thereof in engagement with the toothed segment 4-1. Accordinglv, with this arrangement. it will be apparent that the seat is yieldahtv mounted upon the adjustable bracket ill-#32, and in addition to supporting this seat. the said bracket also supports the stccrinp post as previou lv pointed out and the motor control or rear shifting levers 4G and 47. That. is to say. the said gear shitting lovers are pirotallv' mounted as at 48 upon the upstanding ear portion of the block 29, wherehv the -leve rsf will be in a convenient lation bythe o ')erator. levers are extcnsibli' connected with the inposition for manipu- These gear shifting! struinentalitics in the transmission neehanism which operate. the change the speed. etc.. and coi'ivenient means for rendering these connections extensible may be utilized. such for instance as the loops or guide straps 4 or their equiva- I lent.

,From the torcgoingdcscript ion it will be apparent that the present'invcntiou'provides a novel connection between the tractor and the implement to be drawn. which notonly provides for an effective coupling: of the implcinentto the tractor. but at the same time provides for supporting 'angopcrator's control unit which supports the trol. levers and opcrators seat in such a manner that the same may be readily adapted to meet the requirements of various t. \-'pcs of machines. tools. imp cments. or vehicles. That is to say. the draft element carries at its under .ncss ot' the coupling: between the tractor and And. in addi the means for connecting the implement with the tractor. thc body portion otthc drai't clcmcnl supports the operator's control unit which is longitudilhc implcmcut lo'bc drawn. tion- En supporting nail-y adjustable as a whole thereon, and in gears thereof to side suitable hanger brackets \\'l1l(ll arc loosely niountcd wherelrv various consecuringthereto the eludes means whereby other desirable adjustments may be effected. That is to say, the operators control unit as a whole is mounted on the member ti l which is adjustable longitudinally on the body and said member 233 in turn supports a novel bracket tUHFlsllH Q of the arm 31 and the bar :12 which is both vertically and laterally adjustable through the provision of the segment. +1 and the adjustable plate til. 'lhis bracket also carries the seat 42 mounted on the bars l5 whose intermediate portions are fulcrmned on the lower angular end of the arm 31. while their free ends are engaged beneath the clamping plate ll! which is under the tension of the spring -ll that serves to hold the channel beam in engagement with the serrated segment it. Thus the necessary cushion effect is given to the seat. 42 by the spring 4U which performs the functions heretofore referred to.

The block 525.) which is vertically adjustable on the arm'Z-ll has mounted therein the extensible steering post ii-28. and also supports the control levers 4G and l? which have extensible connections with the proper devices associated with the motor for controlling the speed. etc.. of the tractor. Ac cordingly, when the entire. operator's control unit is shifted longitudinally along the tubular'portion of the draft element, the steelin; post and operation connections for'the control levers will be automatically extended longitudinally also.

1 claim:

1. A tractor includin a frame, a draft element including a shift portion having a lvoke formed at one end thereof and the ;arms of the latter pivotally connecting with said frame, and an operators control unit adjustably mounted on the said shaft portion of the draft element and including the steering gear. operators seat. and engine control connections.

2. A tractor including a frame having a rack. a draft'element including a shaft porlion havin; a yoke formed atone end thereof and the arms of which yoke pivotally connect with said frame, an operator's control unit shiftably mounted on the said shaft portion of the draft element and including a steering wheel. extensible operating connections between said wheel and the rack. a yieldingly mounted and laterally adjustable drivers seat. and control levers having extensible connections with the engine of the. tractor.

2-3. A tractor including a frame; a draft element having: a yoke port-ion pivotally connected with the frame. an ()Pt'ltllOI'hH' control uni-t carried by the body portion of the draft element and including an adjustable bracket. a drivers seat, supports for said drivers seat fulerumed at their intermediate portion upon a part of said bracket, a spring device associated with said bracket for engaging the free endsol the supports for said seat, and means adjnstably mounted on the upslamlingportion of said bracket for supporting the steering column and control levers.

-l. tractor including a frame. a draft element having a yoke portion pivotally connected with the frame, an operators control unit carried by the. body portion of thedraft element and includin a bracket element. having a substantially horizontal channel beam portion and an upstanding arm rigid therewith. means for :uljnstin the channel bar portion of said bracket both vertically and horizontally. an operatons seat vieldabl v t'ulcrumed on the portion of said arm connected with the channel bar, a block adjustably carried by the upstanding arm of the bracket. a steering column mounted in said block, and control levers pivotally mounted in said block.

5. A tractor including a frame, a draft element ha ving a yoke portion pivotally co. nected with the frame, an operators control unit carried by the draft clement, means also carried by the draft element for connecting the same ,with the implement to be drawn, said means comprising a pair of pivotally suspended hanger brackets having means for securing the tongue of the in1- plement to be drawn thereto at different elevations.

(S. A tractor including a frame, a draft element having a yoke portion pivotally connected with the frame, a draw bar also connected with the frame, and means carried by the body of the draft'element for coupling the implement tobe drawn to the tractor consisting of hanger brackets havin; means for adjustably engaging the tongue of the implement to be drawn, and draw and reverse chains respectively connected with the draw bar and the tongue of the implement to be drawn, and with the end of the body of the. draftclement and the tongue of the implement to -be drawn at a point between the draw bar and the said connection of the draw chain with the tongue.

7. tractor including a frame, a draft element including a body portion having at one end a yoke portion straddling the main frame whereby its opposite ends may be respcctivcly connected to the upper and lower sides thereof. sleeves loosely and rotatably mounted on the body of said draft elementand respectively located at the opposite ends thereof. depending brackets pivotally carried by said sleeves. and means adapted to be secured to the tongue of the implement to e drawn. and adjustably connected to -said brackets.

S. tractor including a frame, a draft: element having a yoke portion connected with the frame, means carried by the body portion of said element for connecting with the implement to be drawn, an operators control unit also carried by the body portion of the draft element and including a bracket which is' laterally adjustable and whose free end is vertically adjustable, an adjustable blockcarried by a portion of said bracket, an extensible steering column mounted in said adjustable block, and con-' trol levers pivotally carried by said block, and having extensible motor connections.

9. A tractor including a frame, a draft element havinga yoke portion pivotally connected with said frame, means carried by the body of said draft element for connecting with the, implement to be drawn, an

.operators control unit carried by the body portion of the draft elementand including a member rigidly secured to said body portion of the draft element and having a toothed segment at one end abracket element comprising a channel bar and an upstanding arm, said channel bar of the bracket adapted to engage with the said segment, a spring for maintaining the channel bar in engagement with the segment, a clamping plate between said spring and channel bar, an operators seat, bars for sup blockadjustably carried by the upstanding arm of said bracket, and a steeringI post and control levers carried by said bloc In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my Signaturein thepresence o-f'two witnesses.

FRANK H. GERDEMAN. Witnesses:

GRAcn HARRIs,

CHARLES E. J 012mm. 

